- Date
- August 26, 2022, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Deadhorse, AK · 12nm NE of the Toolik Field Station
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N240RMRobinson Helicopter R44 Clipper 1
- Defining event
- Approach: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20220826008309A
- Case key
- 105841
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during a descent, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The helicopter pilot reported that, he set-up for an approach over hilly terrain with a strong tailwind. Descending on a left base the helicopter began to drift due to the wind, so the pilot added collective pitch to control the descent rate however, the helicopter rapidly descended despite the control input. The pilot initiated a run-on landing to the unimproved featureless tundra that appeared level. Upon ground contact the helicopter dynamically rolled over on its right side. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N240RM
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 Clipper 1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1090
- Built
- 2001
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 135
- Operator
- Pollux Aviation Ltd
- Registered owner
- Pollux Aviation Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 15, 2022
- Departed
- AA14 · Toolik Field Station, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 16, 2022
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 620 in this make and model · 2,850 as pilot in command · 116 in the last 90 days · 42.7 in the last 30 days · 3.1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Turbulence
- Moderate
- Observed at
- PASC, 10 nm away
- METAR
- PASC 261953Z 19005KT 10SM BKN070 16/08 A2945 RMK AO2 SLP973 T01610083 $
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.